While his decision to fire Ron Wilson as coach and replace him with Randy Carlyle was viewed as a good move in NHL circles, the most important summer of Burke’s career at the helm of the Leafs certainly lies ahead.

At first blush, it does not appear that the free agent market contains many potential goaltending saviours this summer, if any at all. Here is the list of the more prominent potential UFAs among goaltenders, including their 2011-12 cap hits:

I havent written my own story for a while and this is just for fun cuz i was bored.. but I decided to do my own mock draft for this junes upcoming draft… its including the latest standings so it wont be accurate in the end but what I think each teams needs.

The season isn’t over yet but the Montreal Canadiens have come to accept that a playoffs spot is clearly out of reach. Now the Habs have to start planning for this summer entry draft and next season.

The top priority on the Habs list would be adding some offensive dept to their line-up as they are set in net and at the blue line, It sure looks like the habs have an under average d-core at the moment but they have an above average prospect d-core that should be moving up very soon, guys like Tinordi, Beaulieu, Ellis, Patteryn, Dietz and Nygren should all be in Hamilton next season, not to mention Benett and Didier who shouldn’t be far behind.

Paul Gaustad handled one question with care last week when he was asked by a Nashville television reporter if he planned to re-sign with Buffalo: “I’m not even thinking about that right now. This is my team now. I’m happy to be here.”

Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash asked the team to consider trading him last month, general manager Scott Howson said this afternoon.Nash, in his ninth season with Columbus, made the request in mid- to –late January, Howson said.

“He approached us and asked us to consider trading him,” Howson said. “We agreed to accomodate his request as long as we could get a deal that would provide us with cornerstone pieces to help us compete for a Stanley Cup championship in the coming years.”

How about a deal involving Marcel Mueller of the Marlies? Does that get your blood flowing?

If not Mueller, who has attracted some interest in a minor-type deal, maybe Nicolas Deschamps after his big day on Sunday, and given that Deschamps was acquired by the Leaf organization this season in a deal with Anaheim for Luca Caputi, well, that’s sort of trade deadline day material.